BBC SPORT - Liverpool 3 Fulham 1

From BBC Sport

Liverpool stepped up a gear in the second half to move to within four points of fourth-placed Everton.

The Reds started the game brightly and Luis Garcia fed Fernando Morientes to superbly head in the opening goal.

But Andy Cole levelled with a diving header from Luis Boa Morte's inviting cross and Tomasz Radzinski went close.

The home side dominated proceedings after the break and Sami Hyypia touched in Steven Gerrard's free-kick before Milan Baros netted from close range.

Captain Gerrard had spoken confidently before the game of overhauling their rivals from across Stanley Park in the chase for a Champions League place.

And his team were in front inside 10 minutes when Morientes rose magnificently to head in Garcia's cross from the right.

Fulham, looking to protect an unbeaten Premiership run of five games, were having problems dealing with Liverpool's movement and passing, with Gerrard pulling the strings and Baros, Garcia and Morientes looking lively.

But Lee Clark pounced on a mistake by Garcia to find Boa Mortes, whose centre was met by a high-quality header from Cole and the game was transformed.

Radzinski found space to head Mark Pembridge's corner wide from six yards as Liverpool lost their early fluency.

Much of the unease stemmed from their defensive uncertainty, with the fans sensing their vulnerability on the counter-attack.

The Cottagers, looking for their first win at Anfield, were well marshalled at the back by Zat Knight, although Igor Biscan forced Edwin van der Sar to save low down to his left in the last meaningful action of the first half.

Liverpool pressed straight after the break and van der Sar cleared with his legs from Baros' cross, while Knight had to make a vital interception to deny the Czech striker after John Arne Riise had headed back Jamie Carragher's cross.

Gerrard was then inches over with an acrobatic volley as Fulham struggled to get out of their own half.

It was no surprise when the Reds' pressure paid off with a second goal, as Hyypia got a feint touch to Gerrard's free-kick.

Having relinquished control of the game in the first half after going ahead, Liverpool were in no mood to repeat the mistake.

Baros settled the outcome when he powered home the third from close in after Riise centred from the left.

Gerrard suffered a cut to his head in the build up, although the Anfield faithful were relieved when he re-emerged shortly after.

Boa Morte almost pulled one back in the closing stages, but Djimi Traore produced a timely block following Carlos Bocanegra's cross and Liverpool saw out the game comfortably.